Tracing the Last Day

We arrived into Jerusalem last night, on our tour of following the story of Jesus from Galilee to this place where he was crucified and resurrected.

It's a powerful place, a jumble of sights, sounds and smells that brings to life our Lord and Savior.

This morning as we started our day, our tour guide stopped to buy bread and hyssop, saying that to enter Jerusalem properly, you should begin with this tradition.

We each tore off a piece, dipped it in hyssop before going on our way for the day.

Today is the day we trace Jesus' last day in Jerusalem before he was crucified. We stop at the traditional spot of the Last Supper, in a room below this rooftop spot where Dave taught this morning about the failures of man and the faithfulness of Christ - a theme that continued throughout the day.

We walked from there to the Garden of Gethsemene, just as Jesus and his disciples did after the Last Supper.

It was here that Jesus was betrayed by Judas.

Within eye sight of where the temple was, Jesus was taken to the house of Caiaphas.

It was here he was held in a prison cell and condemned to die.

It is sobering to be here in Jerusalem so close to Easter this year, and be in the very place where the most significant event in human history took place.

As we sat over the sight where tradition tells us this event took place, I felt such heaviness.

I can't imagine what it must have felt like for the disciples and Jesus' followers when the one they thought would save them, was put in the grave.

I'm so thankful that though they didn't know what would happen next, Jesus did. He was willing to pay the ultimate price of sacrifice for mine, theirs and your sins and endure the agony of death for us all. Hallelujah, what a Savior.

I'm glad I know know how the story ended.